AL SB45

State Health Officer shall issue fish consumption advisories when reasonable and necessary to protect public health, with advisories published on the Alabama Department of Public Health website and a dedicated telephone number maintained for advisory information.

State Health Officer shall establish an advisory panel consisting of representatives from the Alabama Department of Public Health, Alabama Department of Environmental Management, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and interested businesses and conservation organizations to review and approve tissue sampling methodologies, water bodies and fish species to be sampled, pollutant toxicity limits, and communication strategies.

Alabama Department of Environmental Management shall conduct regular fish tissue monitoring to evaluate safe consumption levels and annually publish a report detailing the methodology and reasoning for species and pollutants chosen, with public comment periods provided.

Alabama Department of Environmental Management shall post signage at public boat ramps adjacent to state waters with active advisories, including telephone numbers, internet addresses, and QR codes for accessing advisory information.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources shall notify fishing license purchasers of current fish consumption advisories by providing an internet address to access all active advisories online.

Act becomes effective October 1, 2024.